A feeding system, a feeding unit, a feeder and a method for feeding rod-like elements

ABSTRACT

A feeding system ( 1 ) for feeding groups ( 7 ) of rod-like elements ( 2 ) for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group ( 7 ) includes at least two rod-like elements ( 2 ) arranged coaxially next to each other, the feeding system including: a container ( 3 ) for the rod-like elements ( 2 ); a single element feeder ( 4 ) for feeding individual rod-like elements ( 2 ) from the container ( 3 ); an intermediate storage ( 5 ) for transferring the rod-like elements ( 2 ) from the single element feeder ( 4 ) along a storage duct ( 20 ) to an elements group feeder ( 6 ), wherein an outlet ( 24 ) of the storage duct ( 20 ) has a tilting track ( 21 ) forming a recess ( 36 ) for stopping the rod-like elements ( 2 ); wherein the elements group feeder ( 6 ) includes: a transporting duct ( 25 ) connected to the storage duct ( 20 ); and a transporter ( 26 ) including shovels ( 27 ), wherein the shovels ( 27 ) are configured to transport the groups ( 7 ) of the rod-like elements ( 2 ) one after the other along the transporting duct ( 25 ) from the storage duct ( 20 ) to an outlet duct ( 37 ); and a pushing unit ( 8 ) including a reciprocally movable pusher ( 33 ), configured to eject the group ( 7 ) of the rod-like elements ( 2 ) from the outlet duct ( 37 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a feeding system, a feeding unit, a feeder and a method for feeding rod-like elements, applicable in tobacco industry machines.

BACKGROUND

Tobacco industry products, such as cigarettes, may comprise segment filters with various filtering materials and structural elements. The segments may have a function of spacer elements, for example thin-walled or thick-walled tubes, tobacco smoke stream diffusing elements, for example sintered elements, smooth or porous elements, as well as elements for directing tobacco smoke flow. Such segments, comprised in the segment filter, typically have a form of rod-like elements. The term rod-like elements as used herein also relates to final products, such as cigarettes or filter rods.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device, system and method for feeding groups of rod-like elements, in particular in tobacco industry machines.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed a feeding system for feeding groups of rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other. The feeding system comprises: a container for the rod-like elements; a single element feeder for feeding individual rod-like elements from the container and comprising: a single-layer duct and an outlet formed by a feeding groove of a feeding wheel and a circumferential surface of a shoving away wheel; an intermediate storage for transferring the rod-like elements from the single element feeder along a storage duct to an elements group feeder, wherein an outlet of the storage duct has a tilting track forming a recess for stopping the rod-like elements. The elements group feeder comprises: a transporting duct connected to the storage duct; and a transporter comprising shovels, wherein the shovels are configured to transport the groups of the rod-like elements one after the other along the transporting duct from the storage duct to an outlet duct; and a pushing unit comprising a reciprocally movable pusher, configured to eject the group of the rod-like elements from the outlet duct.

The feeding groove of the feeding wheel may have openings for supplying negative pressure to the surface of the feeding groove.

At least one portion of a bottom of the single-layer duct of the single element feeder may be movable to force agitation of the rod-like elements accumulated in the single-layer duct of the single element feeder.

The recess may be configured to receive at least one rod-like element.

The shovels of the transporter may have a length corresponding to a length of the tilting track of the storage duct.

The tilting track of the storage duct may be configured to be lowered and raised by means of an actuator.

The transporter may be a chain transporter.

The intermediate storage may be a gravitational feeder.

There is also disclosed a feeding unit for feeding groups of rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other, the feeding unit comprising at least two feeding systems as described above, arranged adjacent to each other and having a common container for the rod-like elements for supplying the feeding systems.

Edges of an inlet of the single-layer ducts of the feeding systems may be inclined at different angles.

The shovels of the elements group feeders may be movable by means of a common transporter.

The pushers of the elements group feeders may be driven by a common reciprocally movable mechanism.

There is also disclosed a method for feeding groups of rod-like elements in a tobacco industry machine, wherein a group of the rod-like elements comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other. The method comprises the steps of: feeding the rod-like elements from a container to a single-layer duct of a single element feeder; feeding the rod-like elements from the single element feeder to a storage duct of an intermediate storage; during motion of a transporter of an elements group feeder, sliding an amount of the rod-like elements forming the group, from the storage duct of the intermediate storage to a transporting duct; stopping the transporter; lowering a tilting track of the intermediate storage to form a recess; starting the transporter to transport the group of the rod-like elements received in the transporting duct; after starting the transporter, raising the tilting track of the storage duct to an initial position; feeding the group of the rod-like elements to an outlet duct such as to place the group on an upper surface of a pusher of a pushing unit; moving the pusher reciprocally such as to feed the group of the rod-like elements.

There is also disclosed a single element feeder for feeding individual rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the single element feeder comprises: a single-layer duct formed by at least two sidewalls distanced from each other by a distance from 1.05 to 1.5 of a diameter of the rod-like element and walls connecting the sidewalls; a feeding wheel having a circumferential feeding groove for feeding individual rod-like elements to an outlet of the single element feeder wherein the feeding groove constitutes at least a portion of a bottom of the single-layer duct; a shoving away wheel for pushing an excess of the rod-like elements away from the outlet of the single element feeder, wherein the shoving away wheel rotates in a direction opposite with respect to a direction of rotation of the feeding wheel. The shoving away wheel for pushing away the excess of the rod-like elements has at its circumference multiple inclined surfaces, wherein a distance of the surface from an axis of the shoving away wheel decreases in the direction of the rotation of the shoving away wheel.

The feeding groove of the feeding wheel may comprise openings for supplying negative pressure to the surface of the feeding groove.

At least one wall of the single-layer duct or a portion of the bottom of the single-layer duct may be displaceable and movable to force agitation of the rod-like elements accumulated in the single-layer duct.

There is also disclosed a feeding unit for feeding rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, the feeding unit comprising a container for the rod-like elements and at least two single element feeders as described above, arranged adjacently to each other and being supplied from a common container positioned above the single element feeders.

The feeding wheels of the adjacent containers may be integrated and form a feeding drum.

The adjacent single element feeders may have common side walls.

There is also disclosed an elements group feeder for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other, the elements group feeder comprising: an intermediate storage, configured to feed a train of the rod-like elements along a storage duct; a transporting duct configured to receive the rod-like elements from the storage duct; a transporter with shovels configured to transport the groups of the rod-like elements in the transporting duct from the storage duct to an outlet duct, wherein the shovels are movable in the transporting duct in equal distances from each other, such that the first rod-like element of the group comes into contact with one shovel and the last rod-like element of the group comes into contact with a subsequent shovel. A tilting track is provided at an outlet of the storage duct to the transporting duct, the tilting track configured such that after lowering of the tilting track, a recess is formed, into which at least one element of the train of the rod-like elements fed via the storage duct can slide to stop the train/string.

The shovels may have a length corresponding to a length of the tilting track of the storage duct.

The tilting track may be configured to be lowered and raised by means of an actuator.

The transporter may be a chain transporter.

The intermediate storage may be a gravitational feeder.

There is also disclosed a feeding device for feeding groups of rod-like elements, for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other, the feeding device comprising at least two elements group feeders as described above, wherein the elements group feeders are adjacent to each other and have their shovels displaceable by means of a common transporter.

There is also disclosed a method for feeding groups of rod-like elements in a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group of the rod-like elements comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other. The method comprises the steps of sliding an amount of the rod-like elements forming the group of the rod-like elements into a transporting duct from a storage duct of an intermediate storage during a motion of a transporter; stopping the transporter; lowering a tilting track of the intermediate storage and forming a recess; starting the transporter to transport the group of the rod-like elements, received in the transporting duct; after starting the transporter, raising the tilting track of the storage duct to an initial position; wherein the subsequently received groups of the rod-like elements are transported along the transporting duct to an outlet of an elements group feeder.

There is also disclosed a feeding system for feeding groups of rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other. The feeding system comprises a container for the rod-like elements; a single element feeder for feeding individual rod-like elements comprising a single-layer duct, wherein an outlet of the single element feeder is formed by a feeding groove of a feeding wheel and a circumferential surface of a shoving away wheel; an intermediate storage for transferring the rod-like elements from the single element feeder along the storage duct to an elements group feeder, wherein an outlet of the storage duct has a tilting track configured to form a recess for stopping the rod-like elements. The elements group feeder comprises a transporting duct, configured to receive the rod-like elements from the storage duct, a transporter having shovels, wherein the shovels are configured to transport the groups of the rod-like elements one after the other along the transporting duct from the storage duct to an outlet duct; a pushing unit comprising a reciprocally movable pusher for ejecting the group of the rod-like elements from the outlet duct. An upper surface of the pusher is inclined with respect to a bottom of the outlet duct.

The upper surface of the pusher may be inclined at an angle from 0.5° to 5°, preferably from 3° to 4°, with respect to the bottom of the outlet duct.

There is also disclosed a feeding unit for feeding a group of rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group of the rod-like elements comprises the elements arranged in parallel to each other in one plane, where the feeding device comprises at least two feeding systems as described above, that are adjacent to each other and the pushers of the elements group feeders are movable by a common mechanism.

The present invention allows to efficiently feed rod-like elements to a receiving device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The present invention is shown by means of example embodiments in a drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a feeding system;

FIG. 3 shows a pusher in an extracted position;

FIG. 4 shows the pusher in a retracted position;

FIG. 5 shows the pusher in a side view;

FIG. 6 shows schematically a feeding device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a feeding system 1 for feeding groups 7 of rod-like elements 2 comprises a container 3 for the rod-like elements 2, a single element feeder 4 for feeding individual rod-like elements 2, an intermediate storage 5, an elements group feeder 6 for feeding the groups 7 of the rod-like elements 2, and a pushing unit 8 for ejecting the groups 7 to a device configured to receive the group 7. In the presented embodiment, the group 7 is fed to a receiving device, while the figure shows only a support element 9 of the receiving device, on which the group 7 is placed. The single element feeder 4 has a single-layer duct 11 formed by two sidewalls 11A (parallel to a main plane of the figure), which are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a diameter of the single rod-like element 2, a back wall 11B and a front wall 11C (for an operator observing the device from the side of the receiving device). The distance between the side walls 11A may be from 1.05 to 1.5 of the diameter of the rod-like element 2—owing to this, the rod-like elements 2 are arranged in the single-layer duct 11 one above each other and not side by side, provided that the length of the rod-like elements 2 is greater than their diameter. The single-layer duct 11 is limited from the bottom by a groove 12A on a circumferential surface of a feeding wheel 12 and a displaceable wall 13, used for agitating the rod-like elements 2 accumulated in the single-layer duct 11. The displaceable wall 13 is mounted pivotally on a hinge 14 and is movable by an actuator 15. At the bottom of the groove 12A there may be present openings 19A for holding the rod-like elements 2 by means of a negative pressure, wherein the negative pressure is supplied to the openings by passages 19. Above the feeding wheel 12, there is a shoving away wheel 16 with multiple shoving away surfaces 17 located on its circumference. The shoving away surfaces 17 are shaped such that a distance of a particular surface from an axis of the shoving away wheel 16 decreases in a direction of rotation of the shoving away wheel 16. An outlet 18 of the single element feeder 4 is positioned between the feeding wheel 12 and the shoving away wheel 16. The shoving away wheel 16 and the feeding wheel 12 rotate both in a clockwise direction, wherein at the area of the outlet 18, their circumferential surfaces move counterwise. A peripheral speed of the shoving away wheel may be equal or smaller than the peripheral speed of the feeding wheel 12, for example it may be equal to half of the peripheral speed of the feeding wheel 12. The shoving away surfaces are directed such that during the rotation of the shoving away wheel 16 they gradually push the elements 2 away from the axis of rotation 16A. A width of the outlet duct 18 enables transporting of the elements 2 with small clearance.

The rod-like elements 2 that are accumulated in the container 3 move to the single-layer duct 11, wherein the axes 2A of the rod-like elements 2 are positioned substantially in parallel to the walls 11A. The rod-like elements 2 which are accumulated in the duct 11 are agitated by means of the swinging displaceable wall 13, while the rotating feeding wheel 12 collects the rod-like elements 2 by means of negative pressure and/or by friction and moves them to the outlet 18. In order to efficiently feed the individual elements 2, the excess of the elements 2 which move to the outlet 18 is pushed away by the shoving away wheel 16. The rod-like elements 2, fed by the single element feeder 4 from the outlet 18, fall into and slide along the storage duct 20 of the intermediate storage 5. The single element feeder 4 may operate in a continuous manner, but the rod-like elements 2 are usually fed from the outlet 18 in uneven time intervals. The intermediate storage 5 receives the rod-like elements 2 that are fed, wherein the amount of the rod-like elements 2 in the storage duct 20 may vary.

In the lower part of the intermediate storage 5, at the end of the storage duct 20, there is a tilting track 21, which has two positions. The first position of the tilting track 21 is shown in FIG. 1. In the first position, the rod-like elements 2 slide out from an outlet 24 of the storage duct 20, under the force of gravity, through an inlet 31 to a transporting duct 25 of the elements group feeder 6. The tilting track 21 may tilt about a hinge 22, wherein the change of position of the tilting track 21 is effected by means of an actuator 23. The second position of the tilting track 21 is shown in FIG. 2. In the second position, the rod-like elements 2 cannot slide into the transporting duct 25, because they stop at a recess 36 that is formed therein. The elements group feeder 6 has a form of a chain transporter 26 with shovels 27, wherein the chain transporter 26 is rolled around chain wheels 28 and 29. The position of the shovels 27 may be detected by means of sensors 41 located in any position at the track of movement of the shovels, because the shovels are spaced at equal distances from each other. The position of the shovels 27 may be controlled by an electronic system, such as an encoder installed in a drive system. The shovel 27 may have a length corresponding to a length of the recess 36—this enables to stop the shovels just behind the prepared group 7 of the rod-like elements 2 in the transporting duct 25. Alternatively, the elements group transporter 26 may have a form of a belt transporter. The elements group feeder 6 may comprise the intermediate storage 5.

The rod-like elements 2 in the groups 7 are moved by the shovels 27 along the transporting duct 25 from the inlet 31 to an outlet 32. The shovel 27′ (FIG. 1) of the transporter 26 pushes the group 7′, and the consecutive rod-like elements 2 from the intermediate storage 5 slide gravitationally into the inlet 31. After inputting an amount of the rod-like elements 2 that forms the group 7, the tilting track 21 is lowered to the position shown in FIG. 2 so as to stop the feeding of the elements 2 to the transporting duct 25. The time at which the track 21 is lowered may depend on the movement of the shovels 27 in the operation cycle of the transporter 26 or may depend on the activation of the sensor 41. The tilting track has to be lowered to an extent at which the shovel 27 may pass above the rod-like elements 2 that are stopped at the recess 36. The extent of the lowering of the first element 2 inside the recess 36 may be from 0.2 to 1 diameter of the element 2, wherein the first element 2 may abut a track 30 or another limiter. After the lowering of the tilting track 21, the group 7″ shown in FIG. 2 is formed. After passing of the shovel 27″, the tilting track 21 is shifted again (which is time-dependent or dependent on the sensor activation) to the position shown in FIG. 1. During the formation of the group 7″, the first rod-like element 2 of the group 7″ comes into contact with the shovel 27′ and the last rod-like element 2 of the group 7″ comes into contact with the shovel 27″.

The groups 7 of the rod-like elements 2 are transferred from the outlet 32 to the pushing unit 8. The pushing unit 8 comprises a pusher 33 driven by an actuator 34 and a track 35 for guiding the groups 7 of the rod-like elements, wherein the groups 7 move in an outlet duct 37. A socket 9 for receiving the groups 7 is present behind the track 35, in front of the outlet duct 37.

FIG. 1 shows the group 7′″ of the rod-like elements 2 positioned on the track 35, which after the action of the pushing unit 8 is pushed by the pusher 33 onto a supporting element 9 of the receiving unit, as shown in FIG. 2. During retraction of the pusher 33, another group 7 may be fed by the elements group feeder 6. The group 7 is ejected from the transporting duct 25 through the outlet 32 first on an upper surface 38 of the pusher 33 and next it is slid onto the track 35 after the retraction of the pusher 33 to the position as shown in FIG. 1. While the group 7 is being transferred on the track 35, the group 7 is not separated and the individual elements 2 are not rotated—because that the surface 38 is inclined at the angle from 0.5° to 5° from the surface of the track 35 and the group is therefore transferred gently. The angle of inclination of the surface 38 with respect to the surface of the track 35 is preferably from 3° to 4°. The rod-like elements 2 in the group 7 that is fed are slid from the minimal height onto the track 35. In order to maintain a stable holding of the rod-like elements 2, the track 35 may have a surface 42 in a form of a convex portion of a cylinder, and the pusher 33 may also have the upper surface 38 partially formed as a convex portion of a cylinder 43, as shown in FIG. 3. The inclination angle β of an axis 45 of this portion with respect to the track 35 (FIG. 5) is from 0.5° to 5°, wherein the theoretical cylinder is indicated by reference 44, wherein a part of the surface comprises the portion of the cylinder 43. The speed of the retraction of the pusher 33 to the position shown in FIG. 4 is at least two times higher than the speed of the pusher 33 during the feeding of the group 7 to the receiving unit. The duration of lowering of the group 7 of the rod-like elements 2 on the track 35 depends on the time of retraction of the pusher 33, because the elements 2 are slid from the upper surface 38 of the pusher 33. During the retraction of the pusher 33, the group 7 may be pushed towards the surface 38 by an upper track 40. The track 40 may be moved by an actuator 39. The track 40 may have a form of a spring or a stiff element mounted on a spring. The retraction of the pusher 33 may be effected simultaneously with the motion of the transporter 26—in such a case, the motion ejecting the group 7 to the receiving unit may be effected immediately after retraction of the pusher 33.

FIG. 6 shows schematically a feeding unit 50 for feeding the group 7 of the rod-like elements 2 comprising at least two feeding systems 1 for feeding the groups 7 of the rod-like elements 2. The feeding unit 50 has a container 51 for the rod-like elements 2, from which the feeding systems 1 are supplied, wherein upper edges 11D of the single-layer ducts 11 of the feeding systems 1 may be inclined at different angles, for example may be inclined alternately in opposite directions while maintaining the angle of inclination in the range from 5° to 30° from horizontal. The single-layer ducts 11 form a block of ducts 52. The feeding wheels 12 of particular feeding systems may integrated and may have a form of a feeding drum 53. The intermediate storages may form an intermediate storage 54. The tilting tracks 21 may be mounted on a common shaft forming a tilting track system 55 and may be operated simultaneously. The transporters 26 may be integrated to form a common transporter 56 of the system 57 feeding the groups of the rod-like elements. The pushers 33 may be integrated to form a pushing system 58 operated by a common mechanism. In that device, the feeding unit 59 for feeding the rod-like elements 2 comprises the container 51, the block of ducts 52 and the feeding drum 53. 

1. A feeding system for feeding groups of rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other, the feeding system comprising: a container for the rod-like elements; a single element feeder for feeding individual rod-like elements from the container and comprising: a single-layer duct and an outlet formed by a feeding groove of a feeding wheel and a circumferential surface of a shoving away wheel; an intermediate storage for transferring the rod-like elements from the single element feeder along a storage duct to an elements group feeder, wherein an outlet of the storage duct has a tilting track forming a recess for stopping the rod-like elements; wherein the elements group feeder comprises: a transporting duct connected to the storage duct; and a transporter comprising shovels, wherein the shovels are configured to transport the group of the rod-like elements one after the other along the transporting duct from the storage duct to an outlet duct; and a pushing unit comprising a reciprocally movable pusher, configured to eject the group of the rod-like elements from the outlet duct.
 2. The feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the feeding groove of the feeding wheel has openings for supplying negative pressure to the surface of the feeding groove.
 3. The feeding system according to claim 1, wherein at least one portion of a bottom of the single-layer duct of the single element feeder is movable to force agitation of the rod-like elements accumulated in the single-layer duct of the single element feeder.
 4. The feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the recess is configured to receive at least one rod-like element.
 5. The feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the shovels of the transporter have a length corresponding to a length of the tilting track of the storage duct.
 6. The feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the tilting track of the storage duct is configured to be lowered and raised by means of an actuator.
 7. The feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the transporter is a chain transporter.
 8. The feeding system according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage is a gravitational feeder.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. A single element feeder for feeding individual rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the single element feeder comprises: a single-layer duct formed by at least two sidewalls distanced from each other by a distance from 1.05 to 1.5 of a diameter of the rod-like element and walls connecting the at least two sidewalls; a feeding wheel having a circumferential feeding groove for feeding individual rod-like elements to an outlet of the single element feeder wherein the feeding groove constitutes at least a portion of a bottom of the single-layer duct; and a shoving away wheel for pushing an excess of the rod-like elements away from the outlet of the single element feeder, wherein the shoving away wheel rotates in a direction opposite with respect to a direction of rotation of the feeding wheel; characterized in that: the shoving away wheel for pushing away the excess of the rod-like elements has at its circumference multiple inclined surfaces, wherein a distance of the surface from an axis of the shoving away wheel decreases in the direction of the rotation of the shoving away wheel.
 15. The single element feeder according to claim 14, wherein the feeding groove of the feeding wheel comprises openings for supplying negative pressure to the surface of the feeding groove.
 16. The single element feeder according to claim 14, wherein at least one wall of the single-layer duct or a portion of the bottom of the single-layer duct is displaceable and movable to force agitation of the rod-like elements accumulated in the single-layer duct.
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. (canceled)
 20. An elements group feeder for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other, the elements group feeder comprising: an intermediate storage, configured to feed a train of the rod-like elements along a storage duct; a transporting duct configured to receive the rod-like elements from the storage duct; and a transporter with shovels configured to transport the groups of the rod-like elements in the transporting duct from the storage duct to an outlet duct, wherein the shovels are movable in the transporting duct in equal distances from each other, such that the first rod-like element of the group comes into contact with one shovel and the last rod-like element of the group comes into contact with a subsequent shovel; characterized in that a tilting track is provided at an outlet of the storage duct to the transporting duct, the tilting track configured such that after lowering of the tilting track, a recess is formed, into which at least one element of the train of the rod-like elements fed via the storage duct can slide to stop the train/string.
 21. The elements group feeder according to claim 20, wherein the shovels have a length corresponding to a length of the tilting track of the storage duct.
 22. The elements group feeder according to claim 20, wherein the tilting track is configured to be lowered and raised by means of an actuator.
 23. The elements group feeder according to claim 20, wherein the transporter is a chain transporter.
 24. The elements group feeder according to claim 20, wherein the intermediate storage (5) is a gravitational feeder.
 25. (canceled)
 26. (canceled)
 27. A feeding system for feeding groups of rod-like elements for a tobacco industry machine, wherein the group comprises at least two rod-like elements arranged coaxially next to each other, the feeding system comprising: a container for the rod-like elements; a single element feeder for feeding individual rod-like elements comprising a single-layer duct, wherein an outlet of the single element feeder is formed by a feeding groove of a feeding wheel and a circumferential surface of a shoving away wheel; and an intermediate storage for transferring the rod-like elements from the single element feeder along the storage duct to an elements group feeder, wherein an outlet of the storage duct has a tilting track configured to form a recess for stopping the rod-like elements; wherein the elements group feeder comprises a transporting duct, configured to receive the rod-like elements from the storage duct, a transporter having shovels, wherein the shovels are configured to transport the groups of the rod-like elements one after the other along the transporting duct from the storage duct to an outlet duct; a pushing unit comprising a reciprocally movable pusher for ejecting the group of the rod-like elements from the outlet duct; characterized in that: an upper surface of the pusher is inclined with respect to a bottom of the outlet duct.
 28. The feeding system according to claim 27, wherein the upper surface of the pusher is inclined at an angle from 0.5° to 5°, preferably from 3° to 4°, with respect to the bottom of the outlet duct.
 29. (canceled) 